Window and its associated shade



Feb. 8, 1938. Q T N 2,107,432

WINDOW AND ITS ASSOCIATED SHADE- Filed Sept. 29, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 '22 ANDREW Q. THOMPSON,

Feb. s, 1938. A T M N 2,107,432

WINDOW AND ITS ASSOCIATED S HADE Filed Sept. 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ANDREW (LTHomPsoN,

Patented Feb. s, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13- Claims.

This invention relates to windows, and it has for its object to provide an improved type of window consisting of a plurality of horizontally hinged sections adapted to be swung upwardly 5 and outwardly to open position or to be swung downwardly and inwardly in such manner that the lower edge of each window section has overlapping and abutting engagement against the upper frame member of the next lowermost section, thereby excluding entry of rain and (with shades down) shade sun and exclude vision even when window is open.

I am aware of the fact that windows comprising a plurality of horizontally hinged sections have heretoforebeen suggested. However, one of the most serious objections to the windows of this character heretofore proposed has been that each window section has been provided with a frame extending not only along the top and sides 50 of the glass of the window sections but also across the bottom edge of the glass. This has resulted in rendering these windows too unsightly for residential use, due to doubling up on the number of cross bars andthe fact that when the window is only partly open, the frame members do not appear to be evenly spaced throughout the height of the window..

It. will readily be understood'that when windows comprising horizontally pivoted sections having bottom as well as top bars are opened only a short distance, the lower bars of the frames will appear to be only slightly spaced from the upper bars of the next lower frames, while the further the window sections are opened, the farther these lower bars will appear to be spaced from the top bars, and the nearer they will appear to move toward the top bars of their own sections.

This objectionable characteristic is avoided in my proposed construction by extending the frames around three sides only of the glass, leaving the lower edges of the glass free to overlap the top bar of 'the next lowermost section in a window comprising a bank of horizontally hinged sec-' wind velocity which must be reached before the window sections will move to closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an individual shade for each of the window sections, together with means form'oving all of said 5 shades in unison and throughout all positions of the window sections. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a window illustrating one form of the invention with the shades and their associated parts omitted;

Fig. 2 is a face view of one of the window sections with the shades and their associated parts included F'lFig. 3 is a side viewv of the window section of Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a plurality of the window sections in double bank formation; a

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the actuating cranks upon the pivots of two of the aligned window sections of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a view of one form of balanced window with the window sections in open position, with the window parts in elevation, andwith the window opening of the building in section;

Fig. 8 is a view like Fig. 7 but with the window sections in closed position;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional viewwith a pair of'the window sections in partly opened position and illustrating the means for operating a plurality of shade sections in unison;

Fig. 10 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of one of the shade rollers herein-' after described;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a further modification of the invention;

Fig. 121s a vertical sectional view;

Fig. 13 a fragmentary rear view, and

Fig. 14 a horizontal sectional view on line il-ll of Fig. 12, of a modified form of construction of one of the window sections.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring now to Fig. 1, 5 designates the sill and 6 the framing opening of :the window. The several window sections comprisethe panes of glass I, like those illustrated in Fig. 2, and the frames of these window sections comprise the top bars 8 and theside barsl, the lower edges of theglass of the several sections being left free, as indicated at 1 in Fig. 2. The several window sections of Fig. 1 swing upon the horizontal pivots, are connected to move in unison by cranks I I and link l2, and may be provided with an operating arm l3 and rod or cord M. An extension ll of the frame of the uppermost window section is adapted to engage a downwardly projecting memher ll of the windowframe to close the opening at the top of the window when the window sections' are in closed position.

The simple fcrm of the invention illustrated in i Fig. 1 depends for its novelty upon having. the

- of the two banks may be separated by a hollow post I! (see Fig. 6) within which the operating cranksllandlinkllm'aylie. 'Whenitisdesired to. provide shades for the several window sections, the frames are made as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 1 5. Here the top cross bar I, carrying the pivots I. by which the several frame sections are mounted for horizontal swinging movement, serves as a housing for shade rollers II. The side frame members "are grooved as indicated at 20 for the reception of the glass panes I and. are additionally grooved as indicated at II for the passage of the cords 12. The inner faces of these side frame members I! carry the channel members 28, which extend throughout only a portion of the length of the members It, terminating as indicated at 24 above the lower ends of the side frame membe ll.

These channels constitute guides and supports for the edges of the shades 25, which are mounted upon the shade rollers ll. These shade rollers are very similar to the ordinary household shade rollers in that they are provided with internal springs 2|, one end of which is engaged with theshade roller 18 and the other end of which engages the flxed shaft 11.

This shaft has an end of angular formation indicatedat 2., adapted to engage a conventional type of shade roller bracket (not shown) by which this shift :1 is held against turning. when the shade is drawn downwardly, the spring 2] is placed under tension inthe conventional way. However, no means are provided for latching these shade rollers in any given position. They always tend to wind the shades upon themselves.

The cords I2 (see Figs. land v3) are engaged with the lower edges of the shades, pass downwardly as before stated through the guide channels II, thence over pulleys 2|, carried by the side frame members II, and thence upwardly through 7 channels II. The cords of all of the window sec-- tions may be attached to common actuating cords 3|, which passover pulleys II, at the sides of the window openings, so that'all of actuating cordslloftheshadesma'ybedrawnuponin unisonandsothatallof'theshadesmaybedrawn downwardly to the same degree throughoutali positions of adjustment of the window sections.

In-Piga'land8.thewindowsections areindicatedat Pandmsybe the simple shadeless-win-' frame It.

dow sections of Fig. '1, or they may be provided with shades, as in Figs. 3 and 9. In these Figs. 7 and 8, the several window sections are pivoted at Il and are actuated by links 33 and vertically movable rods '34. The rods 34 are located in suitable channels in the sides of the window There may be one of the rods 34 at each side of' the window frame, or there may be only one rod at one side of .the window frame Assuming that only one rod is employed, such rod will be connected by a link I with a lever I. This lever is pivoted at II and is provided wit a friction bind ing member 39, which may be a simple thumb nut,

to adjust-the frictiomor tension upon the pivot II window will automatically move to closed position when the force of the wind is suflicient to overcome the spring and the tension imposed upon lever 31 by the friction element 39. In other respects, the window sections of Figs. 7 and 8 will preferably be like those previously described.

That is to say, the glass will present a free lower edge, as indicated at 1" in Fig. 2.

While I have stated that the lower edge of the glass is free of a frame member, I may insert in the glass a reinforcing wire or like strengthening member of such a degree of thinness as will not interfere with the freedom of vision of persons within a room. nor present an undesirable appearance from the exterior of the building.

'- In the diagrammatic view Fig. 11, the severalwindow sections 9 are hingedly mounted at the sides of the window frame, as indicated at 0. An operating lever it, provided with a drop cord or rod II", is connected directly to the uppermost window section. The several 'window sections are also pivoted at 9 to a vertically movable rod or link 34.

- A spring 40' aids in counterbalancing the weight of the windows and rod 14, and this, in conjunction with a frictional device upon-the pivot of the uppermost window and lever il as indicated at 38*, provides means for holding the windows in adjusted position. They will maintain this position until moved therefrom under the influence of lever I! or until excessive wind pressure moves them to closed position.

In Figs. 12 to 14, inclusive, the window section comprises a top or head frame 48 and side frame members. The glass constituting the window pane is indicated at 41 and is held in place in the side frame members by suitable packing ll.

' However, it will benoted that this packing occupies only about half the depth of the channels ll, so that passageways ll and I are left for the reception of the edses of the shade II and the cord 22'. It is to be understood that this construetion is duplicated at each side of the window. and that the cords 22- pass over pulleys Il located within the channels and below the lower edge of the glass pane.

The headframe I is pivoted forvertical swinging movement as hereprovided with suitablei .ears Bl, pierced for the reception of pivots (not shown) by which the window section may be inbefore described 'Ihe head frame isshaped' 1g allow-1L2 to constitute must.- i l,- for the reception of the shade roller II, this shade roller like that illustrated in H8. am! hercinbefore ducribed.

A'flllingfblock I! overlies the upper edge of I .the glass pane and reduces the extent to which this pane'has to proiect'hpintothehead frame..

Suitable packing, 53, engages the glass along-its upperedge, and the cords 22' pass through this packing and throu h the filling block I2 Thus, the lower rear faces of the side frame members 48, as at 48-, may make contact with the front face of the head frame or the next lowermost window section.

It will be apparent that many ways will readily suggest themselves to the skilled engineer, of modifying the arrangements herein proposed. Therefore, it is to be understood that the means illustrated are merely exemplary of the principles which I desire to protect by this present application, and that the invention includes within its purview whatever changesv fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1. A window comprising a vertical bank of horizontally hinged and overlapping sections, each of said sections comprising a glass pane and framing members along its sides and top, the lower edge of the glass pane being freeand being adapted-to lie against the top member of the next lowermost window section.

2. A structure as \recited in claim 1, in combination with a common actuating means for ac,- tuating all of said sections in unison.

3. A structure as recited in claim 1, in combi nation with a common actuating means for actuating all of said sections in unison, and a counterbalancing means .for said sections of such nature as to hold the window sections open under light draft and to permit the sections to move automatically to closed position under increased wind pressure."

a. A window comprising a' vertical bank of horizontally hinged and overlapping sections, each of said sections comprising a glasspane and framing members along its sides and top, the

lower-edge of the glass pane being free and being adapted to lie against the top frame member of the next lowermost window section, a common actuating member for all of said sections, a manually operable member connected to the com mon actuating member, and a friction producing means upon the common actuating member.

5. A window comprising a vertical bank of horizontally hinged and overlappingsections, each-of said sections comprising a glass pane and'fra'm ing members along its sides and top the lower edge of the glass pane being free and being adapted to lie against the top frame member of t the next lowermost window section, links connected to each of the window sections, avertically movable bar with which all of said links are connected, a' pivoted lever connected to said. bar,- tension imposing means upon the pivot of said member, and manually operable means engaged withsaid lever. Y Y

6. A window structure of the" character described, comprising a plurality of window sections horizontally pivoted to swing in vertical planes, a shade and shade roller carried by each of said sections, and means for actuatinguthe shades of all of said sections in unison and throughout all positions of adjustment of the said sections.

'7. A structure as recited in claim 8, wherein pane, and framing members extending each of the sectionecompgsg a vglass acr om m a top and along the sides only of said-pane, the

lower-sedge of-the glass pane being-free and having overlapping engagementwith the top frame member of the next lowermost section.

18.-A-'structure-of, the character.

p ing a a ty of horizontally pivbgeq' sections, each comprising a glasspan and members along thetopand sides of said pane.

the lower edge of the pane being free and the I top frame member being formed to constitute a housing for a shade roller.

. 9. a structure of the character described.-

comprising a plurality of horizontally pivoted window sections, each comprising a glass pane, and frame members along the top and sides of said pane, the lower edge of the pane being free and the top frame member being formed to'con- 'stitute a housing for a shade roller, .a shade roller in said housing, a shade thereon, spring means constantly tending to wind the shade upon the roller, means for drawing upon the shadefrom a point remote from the window section, said means comprising cords attached to the lower edge of the shade, members atthe lower portion of the side frame members of-the window sec-- tion over which said cords pass, and cord receiving passageways in the side frame members, through whichthe cords pass upwardly and outwardly to a'point beyond the top frame member of a section.

. 1.1. A window unit consisting of a long and narrow pane of transparent material, top and side frame members engaged with said pane, the pane being free along its lower edge, the top frame member being shaped and dimensioned to constitute a housing for a shaderoller, and the side frame members being each provided with three channels, 'one for the reception of a side edge of the pane, another constituting a guide for the lower edge of a; shade, and the third constituting a passageway for the-actuat-.

ing cords of the'shade. I

12. In a window construction .of the character described, a window section comprising a long and narrow glass pane, top and side frame members for said pane, the lower edge of the pane" being free, shade rollers mounted adjacent the top of the pane,-said side frame members being each provided with three channels in the direction of their length, a side edge .of the pane'being received in one of said channels, another of said channels constituting a guide and support for the said shade, actuating cords attached to the lower portions of said shades and passing downwardly to the lower end of the side frame members, pulleys at the lower ends'of the side frame members over which the cords pass to the third .of said channels, said. cords extending through the latter channel upwardly and beyond the top frame members.

13. In a window construction of the character described, a window section comprising a long and narrow glass pane, top and side frame members ior saidpane, the lower edse of the pane being free, shade rollers mounted adjacent the top oi the pane, said side frame members being .eachprovided withthree'chsnnelsin thedirec- '-tion-oi,their iensth, a side edle o! the pane be- 10 the lower portions of said shades and passing downwardly to the lower'end o! the side irame' members, pulleysat the lower ends 0! the side irame members over which the cords pass to the third oi said channels, said cords extending through the latter channel upwardly and beyond the top frame members, and means to which all of said cords areattached for drawing upon the cords of all oi said shades simultaneously.

ANDREW THOMPSON. 

